Malaysia Export vs Import Spread Dashboard

Malaysia Trade Intelligence

Compare Malaysia’s exports and imports by sector using spread value, spread ratio, trade balance, and sector direction based on official Malaysia open data.

Latest Malaysia Export vs Import Spread: March 2026

The figures below rank sectors by the absolute spread between exports and imports.

Total Exports RM 148,752,304,156 (RM 148.75 billion)

Total Imports RM 124,199,086,437 (RM 124.20 billion)

Export-Led Spread RM 24,553,217,719 (RM 24.55 billion)

Widest Spread Sector Machinery and Transport Equipment

Malaysia Sectors Ranked by Export vs Import Spread

The cards below show the widest export-import spread across Malaysia’s major trade sectors.

Rank 1

Machinery and Transport Equipment

Export-Led Spread RM 11,990,136,548 (RM 11.99 billion)

Spread Ratio 8.05%

Exports RM 80,492,049,894 (RM 80.49 billion)

Imports RM 68,501,913,346 (RM 68.50 billion)

Total Trade RM 148,993,963,240 (RM 148.99 billion)

Rank 2

Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles

Export-Led Spread RM 9,388,409,460 (RM 9.39 billion)

Spread Ratio 35.77%

Exports RM 17,817,880,070 (RM 17.82 billion)

Imports RM 8,429,470,610 (RM 8.43 billion)

Total Trade RM 26,247,350,680 (RM 26.25 billion)

Rank 3

Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials

Export-Led Spread RM 4,965,218,650 (RM 4.97 billion)

Spread Ratio 18.35%

Exports RM 16,011,233,441 (RM 16.01 billion)

Imports RM 11,046,014,791 (RM 11.05 billion)

Total Trade RM 27,057,248,232 (RM 27.06 billion)

Rank 4

Animal and Vegetable Oils, Fats and Waxes

Export-Led Spread RM 4,681,864,666 (RM 4.68 billion)

Spread Ratio 66.28%

Exports RM 5,872,816,498 (RM 5.87 billion)

Imports RM 1,190,951,832 (RM 1.19 billion)

Total Trade RM 7,063,768,330 (RM 7.06 billion)

Rank 5

Food and Live Animals

Import-Led Spread RM -2,632,557,937 (RM -2.63 billion)

Spread Ratio -24.72%

Exports RM 4,008,837,738 (RM 4.01 billion)

Imports RM 6,641,395,675 (RM 6.64 billion)

Total Trade RM 10,650,233,413 (RM 10.65 billion)

Rank 6

Commodities and Transactions Not Elsewhere Classified

Import-Led Spread RM -1,879,295,124 (RM -1.88 billion)

Spread Ratio -36.76%

Exports RM 1,616,624,419 (RM 1.62 billion)

Imports RM 3,495,919,543 (RM 3.50 billion)

Total Trade RM 5,112,543,962 (RM 5.11 billion)

Rank 7

Chemicals and Related Products

Import-Led Spread RM -1,605,520,320 (RM -1.61 billion)

Spread Ratio -9.06%

Exports RM 8,056,602,553 (RM 8.06 billion)

Imports RM 9,662,122,873 (RM 9.66 billion)

Total Trade RM 17,718,725,426 (RM 17.72 billion)

Rank 8

Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels

Import-Led Spread RM -1,524,907,933 (RM -1.52 billion)

Spread Ratio -18.54%

Exports RM 3,349,654,797 (RM 3.35 billion)

Imports RM 4,874,562,730 (RM 4.87 billion)

Total Trade RM 8,224,217,527 (RM 8.22 billion)

Rank 9

Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material

Export-Led Spread RM 1,201,753,698 (RM 1.20 billion)

Spread Ratio 5.61%

Exports RM 11,302,933,756 (RM 11.30 billion)

Imports RM 10,101,180,058 (RM 10.10 billion)

Total Trade RM 21,404,113,814 (RM 21.40 billion)

Rank 10

Beverages and Tobacco

Import-Led Spread RM -31,883,989 (RM -31.88 million)

Spread Ratio -6.65%

Exports RM 223,670,990 (RM 223.67 million)

Imports RM 255,554,979 (RM 255.55 million)

Total Trade RM 479,225,969 (RM 479.23 million)

Source: Official Malaysia open data from data.gov.my and the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Figures are grouped by Standard International Trade Classification sections. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision.

Understanding Malaysia Export vs Import Spread

Malaysia’s export vs import spread shows the difference between export value and import value for each major trade sector. A positive spread means exports are higher than imports, while a negative spread means imports are higher than exports.

This dashboard helps visitors compare how far apart exports and imports are across different sectors. It is useful for exporters, importers, manufacturers, logistics providers, freight forwarders, researchers, analysts, students, investors, and business owners.

Why Export vs Import Spread Matters

The spread between exports and imports gives a practical view of sector direction. Some sectors may be strongly export-led, while others may be more import-dependent. A wide spread may indicate stronger sector imbalance, while a narrow spread may indicate a more balanced trade position.

For logistics providers, spread analysis can help identify whether a sector may generate more outbound cargo movement or inbound cargo movement. Export-led sectors may require export documentation and outbound shipment planning, while import-led sectors may require customs clearance, warehousing, and inland distribution support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is export vs import spread?

It is the difference between exports and imports for a sector.

What does a positive spread mean?

A positive spread means exports are higher than imports.

What does a negative spread mean?

A negative spread means imports are higher than exports.

How often is the data updated?

The official trade data is generally updated monthly. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision.

Data Notice:
The figures displayed on this page are based on official Malaysia open data and are provided for general information and reference. Recent figures may be provisional and subject to revision by the official data provider.